CHESHIRE West and Chester’s recently elected shadow authority has chosen County Hall, in Chester, as its headquarters in the short term.

The shadow council executive said it had considered “all the options available” across the Cheshire West and Chester area.

The leader of the Conservative-controlled shadow council, Cllr Mike Jones, said: “The new council will support employment and the economy by maintaining the broad distribution of its workforce across the Cheshire West and Chester area, including locations in Vale Royal, Ellesmere Port and Chester.

“County Hall, Chester, will be a suitable headquarters in the short term.

“Any necessary modifications that are needed will be modest.”

The Conservatives swept to victory in May’s elections for the new Cheshire West & Chester Council, which comes into operation in April.

The new unitary authority, which replaces Ellesmere Port Borough Council and its counterparts in Chester and Vale Royal, will handle all council services from education and social and elderly care, to roads, libraries and dustbins.

In the elections, the Conservative Party won 55 seats, while Labour came second with 13 seats, and the Liberal Democrats got four.

Cllr Jones said: “Decisions on the long- term location for the new council’s headquarters will take into account disposals of any surplus buildings, the full implications of regeneration programmes in Chester City and our major towns and the impact of our substantial workforce on the local and commercial environment.

“It will also ensure we grasp the opportunity to create a new council with its own identity, for the delivery of quality services.”